The NSCAA has ranked the SUNY Oneonta men's soccer team No. 3 in its 2016 preseason poll released on Tuesday night.  The Red Dragons start this season where they ended 2015 after its second straight appearance in the NCAA national semifinals.
 
The Red Dragons are coming off a season in which they were 19-3-2.  The team captured its second consecutive SUNYAC championship after also winning the regular season title to earn the No. 1 seed.  Oneonta has won four of the last five conference titles while making five straight NCAA appearances.
 
"Preseason rankings are a nice compliment, but they are more of a reflection of last year's performance than a prediction of what is to come." Stated 14^th year Head Coach Iain Byrne, who was the SUNYAC and East Region Coach of the Year in 2015.  "We have been fortunate to enjoy a great run these past two years, but with graduation, our team will look significantly different this season and it will be a challenge for this young group to live up to past achievements."
 
With the graduation of 10 seniors including eight starters, Oneonta will look to the returners who have been waiting for their opportunity.  Senior captains, Hans Purtell (Johnson City/Johnson City) and Anthony Passiatore (South Setauket/Ward Melville), along with junior captain Cory Santangelo (Sayville/Sayville) will lead the Red Dragons in 2016.
 
Santangelo, who was SUNYAC First-Teamer in 2015, was third on the team in scoring last fall with seven goals and two assists.  A Third Team All-Conference selection, Purtell chipped in with three goals and six assists.  Passiatore added three goals including a pair of game-winners and was a First Team All-Conference player.
 
Returning sophomores, Alejandro Ruiz (Brentwood/Brentwood) and Otavio Basso (Pelham Manor/Pelham), performed well during the spring.  The addition of a talented group of incoming freshmen will bolster the midfield and defense.  Up front, newcomers Whitman Hernandez and Jackson Leon should be solid additions.  Hernandez led Walt Whitman High School to a state championship last fall.
 
Freshman and High School All-American Ryan Wilson will compete for the starting goalkeeper spot with returners Mike Gaffary (Bay Shore/St. John the Baptist) and Nick Lindovski (Baldwinsville/Baldwinsville).
 
Other incoming freshmen that could see playing time right away are defenders Daniel Ioos, and Dominik Dabrowski and Evan Ingersoll along with midfielders Giraldo Ritaccio, Phil Barabanov and Nick Dillman.  All are "supremely talented players" according to Byrne.
 
Oneonta will open its 2016 season on Sunday, Sep. 4 versus Washington and Lee in the Gilmore Alumni Tournament hosted by Rowan.  The Red Dragons will play the host on Monday.
 
The home opener for the Red Dragons will be Friday, Sep. 9 against preseason No. 25, Dickinson, in their opener of the Oneonta Mayor's Cup Tournament at 4pm.
 
Oneonta will play its SUNYAC opening game on Friday, Sep. 23 at home versus rival SUNY Cortland.